Resources

A resource is any physical material constituting part of the Earth that people need and value. The
uses, value and importance of resources may differ according to cultures. Geographers often
define resources to include human resources. Natural resources can include raw materials,
climate, soils. Human resources can be subdivided into people and capital. A further distinction
can be made between non-renewable resources and renewable resources.
Energy Resources
The Sun is the primary source of the Earth's energy. Without energy, nothing can live or work.
Renewable resources.
These are a flow of nature and can be used over and over. These include solar energy, wind, tidal
power, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, waves, and biomass. Renewables are replaceable if
the extraction rate is less than the natural rate at which a resource renews. Renewable resources
cause less environmental pollution and are more sustainable.
Non-renewable resources
These are finite, and their exploitation can lead to the exhaustion of supplies. Examples of non-
renewable resources include oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy. Oil, natural gas, and coal
are collectively called fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were formed within the Earth from dead plants
and animals over millions of years. They are found in underground layers of rock and sediment.
Pressure and heat transformed the plants and animals remains into crude oil (also known as
petroleum), coal and natural gas. Fossil deposits are extracted through drilling or mining, and
they can be in liquid, gas, or solid form. Fossil fuels are highly combustible, making them a rich
source of energy. The rate of extraction depends in part on the current market price.
Factors that affect demand for and supply of energy
On a national scale, different countries have different populations and levels of economic
development hence the considerable variation in energy supply and demand. Growth in energy
demand is remarkably rapid in MICs such as China and India. A country's energy policy can
significantly impact the demand for energy if it focuses on efficiency and sustainability as
opposed to solely building more power stations and refining facilities. High levels of pollution
can be a stimulus to developing a cleaner energy policy.
The current challenge is to transform the global energy mix to achieve a better balance between
renewable and non-renewable resources.
The energy mix is the relative contribution of different energy sources to a country's energy
production and consumption.
National variations in energy supply can be explained by various physical, economic, and
political factors.
Draw table 12.1 page 373 Nagle and write notes below the table.

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Renewable energy
Hydroelectric power
Hydroelectric power is energy that comes from the force of moving water. This energy is used to
generate electricity in hydropower plants. The movement of water is driven by gravity.
Advantages
• Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source.
• Hydroelectricity uses the energy of running water, without reducing its quantity, to
produce electricity. Therefore, all hydroelectric developments, of small or large size,
whether run of the river or of accumulated storage, fit the concept of renewable energy.
• Hydroelectric power plants with accumulation reservoirs offer incomparable operational
flexibility since they can immediately respond to fluctuations in demand for electricity.
The flexibility and storage capacity of hydroelectric power plants make them more
efficient and economical in supporting the use of intermittent renewable energy sources,
such as solar energy or wind energy..
• River water is a domestic resource that is not subject to market fluctuations contrary to
fuel or natural gas. In addition to this, it is the only significant renewable source of
electricity. Its cost-benefit ratio, efficiency, flexibility and reliability assist in optimizing
the use of thermal power plants.
• Hydroelectricity contributes to the storage of drinking water.
• Hydroelectric power plant reservoirs collect rainwater, which can then be used for
consumption or irrigation. In storing water, they protect the water tables against depletion
and reduce our vulnerability to floods and droughts.
• Hydroelectricity increases the stability and reliability of electricity systems.
• The operation of electricity systems depends on rapid and flexible generation sources to
meet peak demands, maintain the system voltage levels, and quickly re-establish supply
after a blackout. Energy generated by hydroelectric installations can be injected into the
electricity system faster than any other energy source. The capacity of hydroelectric
systems to reach maximum production from zero in a rapid and foreseeable manner
makes them exceptionally appropriate for addressing alterations in the consumption and
providing ancillary services to the electricity system, thus maintaining the balance
between the electricity supply and demand.
• The hydroelectric life cycle produces minimal amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG). In
emitting less GHG than power plants driven by gas, coal or oil, hydroelectricity can help
retard global warming. Although only 33% of the available hydroelectric potential has
been developed, today, hydroelectricity prevents GHG emission corresponding to the
burning of 4.4 million barrels of petroleum per day worldwide.
• Hydroelectric power plants do not release pollutants into the air. They very frequently
substitute the generation from fossil fuels, thus reducing acid rain and smog. In addition
to this, hydroelectric developments do not generate toxic by-products.
• Hydroelectricity offers a significant contribution to development as it encourages
tourism, fishing and other recreational activities that generate foreign currency.

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 • Hydroelectric installations bring electricity, highways, industry, and commerce to
communities, thus developing the economy, expanding access to health and education,
and improving the quality of life. Hydroelectricity is a technology that has been known
and proven for more than a century. Its impacts are well understood and manageable
through measures for mitigating and compensating the damages. It offers vast potential
and is available where development is most necessary.
• With an average lifetime of 50 to 100 years, hydroelectric developments are long-term
investments that can benefit various generations. They can be easily upgraded to
incorporate more recent technologies and have very low operating and maintenance costs.
• Hydroelectric enterprises that are developed and operated economically, environmentally
sensible, and socially responsible represent the best concept of sustainable development.
That means "development that today addresses people's needs without compromising the
capacity of future generations for addressing their own needs" (World Commission on
the Environment and Development, 1987).
Disadvantages
• Interruptions of natural water flow can have a significant impact on the river ecosystem
and the environment. Some fish species and other creatures usually migrate when there is
a food shortage or when the breeding season begins. The building of dams could cut off
their paths, leading to a lack of reproduction of fish deaths.
• Power plants can be costly to build. Hydroelectric power plants are not a particular case
to this. Hydroelectric power plants are very costly to construct due to logistical
challenges like topography, laying foundations underwater, and building them.
• The only upside is that after completion, it will require less maintenance. Still, the
hydroelectric plant will have to operate for a long time to recoup the money injected into
the construction.
• One of the main downsides to setting up hydroelectric power plants is the risk of local
droughts. The overall energy and power costs are discovered depending upon water
accessibility. Accessibility of water can be significantly impacted by dry spells leading to
limited electricity supply
• Countries that harbour rich sources of hydroelectric power typically build dams across
the river to harness the water. While this act is laudable, it can result in interruption of
natural water flow from one specific direction to another hence countries have to agree on
the construction of dam walls to reduce the possibility of conflict
• Communities living downstream are vulnerable to flooding should strong water currents
be released from the dam. In the long run, the livelihood of people living in those areas
might be negatively affected
• People living along low lying areas are often in danger of floods as the areas might get
swept away when water is released in full force from the dam. Apart from this, these
people are forcibly moved out so that construction of these dams can continue.
• Hydroelectric power reservoirs emit vast quantities of carbon dioxide and methane. These
areas near the dam are full of water, and the plants underneath the water begin to rot and
decompose. This kind of decomposition without oxygen involvement gives off vast
amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, which leads to an increase in pollution levels.

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 • The construction of large-scale dams can contribute to grave geological damage. A
classic example of geological damage is the construction of the Hoover Dam in the
United States that caused earthquakes and led to the depression of the Earth's surface in
the area.

Solar energy

Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun and can be harnessed using various
technologies such as solar heating, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal electricity. Solar energy
is a renewable source of energy that is sustainable and inexhaustible, unlike finite fossil fuels.

Harnessing Solar Energy

The strength of the solar energy available at any point on the Earth depends, on the day of the
year, the time of day, and the latitude of the collection point. The amount of energy collected can
be further changed depending on the orientation and shape of the object doing the collection.
Insolation is a measurement of the amount of solar energy that reaches the surface of the Earth.
The amount of insolation an area receives depends upon the Sun's angle, the amount of dust and
water vapour in the air, and the amount of cloud cover. Less than half of the radiation energy we
receive from the Sun makes it to the ground. The rest is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected
back out into space.
Solar photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into electricity
Solar photovoltaic (PV) devices, or solar cells, change sunlight directly into electricity. Small PV
cells can power calculators, watches, and other small electronic devices. Arrangements of many
solar cells in PV panels and multiple PV panels in PV arrays can produce electricity for an entire
house. Some PV power plants have large arrays that cover many acres to produce electricity for
thousands of homes.
Solar thermal energy
Solar Thermal or heat energy is used widely in Australia for heating water for our domestic use
in Solar Water heaters. This is an excellent and economical energy solution. Using the Sun's heat
to make our hot water, we cut down on the number of fossil fuels needed to be burnt to supply
electricity to do the same thing. The technology is now developing which will use solar thermal
energy to produce steam at high enough temperatures and pressures to drive steam turbines for
electricity generations

Advantages

• Solar energy systems/power plants do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases.
Using solar energy can positively affect the environment when solar energy replaces or
reduces other energy sources that have more significant effects on the environment.
• Solar energy systems on buildings have minimal effects on the environment.

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Disadvantages

• However, some toxic materials and chemicals are used to make photovoltaic (PV) cells
convert sunlight into electricity. Some solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous
fluids to transfer heat. Leaks of these materials could be harmful to the environment. U.S.
environmental laws regulate the use and disposal of these types of materials.
• The amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface is not constant. The amount of
sunlight varies depending on location, time of day, the season of the year, and weather
conditions.
• The amount of sunlight reaching part of the Earth's surface is relatively small, so a large
surface area is necessary to absorb or collect a significant amount of energy.
• As with any power plant, large solar power plants can affect the environment near their
locations. Clearing land for construction and the placement of the power plant may have
long-term effects on the habitats of native plants and animals.
• Some solar power plants may require water for cleaning solar collectors and
concentrators or for cooling turbine generators. Using large volumes of groundwater or
surface water for cleaning collectors in some arid locations may affect the ecosystems
that depend on these water resources. In addition, the beam of concentrated sunlight a
solar power tower creates can kill birds and insects that fly into the beam.

References
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/
https://www.solarschools.net/knowledge-bank/renewable-energy/solar/energy
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/hydroelectric-power-
advantages-production-and-usage
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-hydroelectric-power.php